title: Progression of puberty after initiation of androgen therapy in patients with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Onset of puberty in boys usually occurs by 14 years of age. Some boys may exhibit delayed sexual maturation till about 17-18 years of age. However, pubertal onset beyond 18 years of age is exceedingly rare.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients diagnosed as idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH) who had onset of puberty (increase in testicular volume >10 ml) while on androgen therapy were studied. These patients were evaluated prospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were nine subjects that were included in the study. The pre-therapy testicular volumes ranged from 3 to 6 ml. Luteinizing hormone (LH) levels increased from 1.2 ± 0.96 to 2.8 ± 1.0 IU/L, follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) levels increased from 1.5 ± 0.79 to 3.5 ± 1.9 IU/L, and testosterone increased from 0.36 ± 0.16 to 3.4 ± 2.1 ng/ml. Three out of nine patients had testosterone levels below 3 ng/ml.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our present study indicates that pubertal development can occur in patients presenting with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism after 18 years of age. However, acquired pubertal status may be subnormal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Bindu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kulshreshtha
authors.forename: Rajesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khadgawat
authors.forename: Nandita
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Ariachery
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ammini
keywords: Delayed puberty; progression of puberty; reversal of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism